8 Things That Shocked Me About Visiting Nicaragua For The First Time
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I’m simply over midway by a Central American journey, after beginning in Panama and dealing my approach as much as Mexico, a visit which I’m finishing in 5 months whereas working full-time on-line as a digital nomad.
While each nation has been superb (I’m scripting this from the completely beautiful Antiqua, Guatemala) one nation has stood out as an surprising spotlight.
I’m speaking about The Land of Lakes and Volcanoes itself, Nicaragua.
Being American, most of every little thing I had heard about Nicaragua earlier than planning this journey was not constructive, to say the least.
Let me wholeheartedly say that I’m so glad I didn’t hearken to the misguided warnings and that I used to be in a position to spend a month traversing my approach throughout this beautiful Central American gem.
@nomads_nook Replying to @bradxlee._19 📍Nicaragua🇳🇮 is situated in Central America and is thought for its breathtaking sunsets and tropical seashores🌴 – #nicaragua #travel #traveltiktok #travelinspo #nicaragua🇳🇮 #tiktoktravel #nicaraguatiktoks #nicaraguatiktok #paradise – 📽: @david.tejada.73 @Leo Chavez @Visit Nicaragua @Colleen ♬ Me Gustas Tu – Sped Up Version – Manu Chao
Nicaragua is actually not the only country in Central America that is still a bit undiscovered, and there are many in this region that it is best to add to your journey plans this 12 months.
Every day and each new place in Nicaragua was a pleasing shock, however listed below are 8 issues that basically shocked me:
The Safety
Let’s begin with the one factor that involves thoughts if you first hear about touring in Nicaragua. Is it protected?
While some media protection on the nation and its management doesn’t paint the nation in the most effective gentle, as a traveler there for a month, I by no means skilled something that made me really feel unsafe.
That being stated, I wouldn’t stroll round many locations after darkish, however I wouldn’t do that in most international locations right this moment. Some research have proven that Nicaragua has a decrease crime fee than its way more in style neighbor of Costa Rica (one other nation I by no means felt unsafe in).
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Nicaragua is the second poorest nation within the Western Hemisphere, and touring from one location to the subsequent, you will note this firsthand.
There is numerous poverty right here, though from what I noticed, it was principally within the countryside, and the cities didn’t appear to have too dangerous of a homeless drawback.
Currently, Nicaragua has a degree 3 journey advisory from the U.S. State Department, principally resulting from restricted healthcare availability and poor regulation enforcement points.
As a traveler, in the event you keep in the primary vacationer areas equivalent to San Juan Del Sur, Granada, Ometepe Island, Leon, and the Corn Islands, you have to be effective, though I might completely carry medical health insurance with you.
The Nature and Wildlife
For a rustic that is called the land of lakes and volcanoes, it certain has… properly, numerous them. One exercise many do right here is volcano boarding down the spectacular Cerro Negro, simply reachable from Leon.
I opted for a extra laid-back expertise and headed to Laguna de Apoyo simply exterior Granada, the place you possibly can chill and swim all day within the volcanic lagoon after which take a straightforward hike as much as the highest of Masaya Volcano to see the sundown and the effervescent lava (one of many solely locations on the earth you possibly can see this!)
Nicaragua has about 7% of the world’s biodiversity, and you will note stunning nature in every single place you flip. The birds, fish, mammals, reptiles, and every little thing in between will shock you.
I skilled most of this on the superb Ometepe Island, the place I used to be awoken by howler monkeys, noticed spiders larger than my hand (in my bathe, no much less) and big iguanas simply chillin’ across the garden.
Aside from these creatures, the sheer quantity of colourful and interesting birds I noticed in Nicaragua actually gave Costa Rica a run for its cash.
The Colors
On a stroll within the little city of Moyogalpa one night, I commented on all of the paint shops that this small city had. To which my husband replied, “Have you seen the houses?!”
I needed to snigger as a result of, sure, after all there’s a paint retailer on each nook, as a result of each home on this nation is painted some neon shiny coloration, one after the subsequent.
The complete metropolis of Granada, for instance, appears to be like prefer it might need been painted to be an Instagram backdrop, however nope. They are simply colourful right here.
The colours of locations like this in Central America are one factor I’ll undoubtedly miss when this journey is finished.
The Beaches
Let me get this out of the best way proper now; I’m by no means a surfer. I’m way more of a let’s seize a drink and watch the sundown sort of traveler.
That being stated, I do respect a great seashore city with a browsing vibe. The southern city of San Juan Del Sur is precisely that and makes a straightforward begin for any journey by Nicaragua, because it’s simply over the border from Costa Rica.
With a Jesus statue that may remind you of a mini Rio De Janeiro and extra locations to eat and drink than you possibly can presumably get by, this seashore city is one to remain some time and chill.
On the coast alongside the Pacific you will discover different smaller cities, equivalent to Playa Mardras and Playa El Coco, each good choices for a really quiet vibe. In the northern a part of Nicaragua’s Pacific coast, you could find one other in style seashore city of Las Penitas.
Across the nation, situated about 50 miles into the Caribbean, you will discover the idyllic Corn Islands, and whereas I couldn’t embody them on this journey resulting from time, they’re undoubtedly on my radar for an additional go to.
The Ease Of Travel
Before this journey, I had numerous reservations about touring round Central America. I used to be not sure if it will be simple to navigate the transportation and attain all of the (ever-growing) variety of locations I needed to incorporate.
However, the most effective factor about Central America is that getting from level A to level B could be as simple or as low cost as you make it.
Chicken busses join your complete sub-continent roughly and oftentimes value lower than a cup of espresso.
Next up is shared shuttles, which I used 99% of the time, principally resulting from time restraints and being previous and cranky and never wanting to hold my (additionally ever-growing) backpack round.
Where any customer will possible wish to go in Nicaragua is properly linked by transportation, and shuttle busses typically value lower than $30 an individual, with door-to-door drop-off.
It’s price noting that personal drivers can be fairly low cost right here as properly, and I used them just a few instances after I couldn’t make shuttle instances resulting from work. The greatest tip is to get a card from one you want and preserve utilizing them.
Undiscovered Gem
One factor that basically stunned me in Nicaragua (and in El Salvador as properly) is the variety of vacationers it appears to obtain. Now, there have been vacationers in every single place we went; sure, this nation isn’t a secret anymore, and other people do come right here.
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However, what did shock me was the place these vacationers have been coming from. In my month of assembly folks, I will need to have solely come throughout 4 different American vacationers. Many I met got here from Australia, some from Germany and France, and some Canadians.
It appears to me that Americans would possibly nonetheless think about Nicaragua not attention-grabbing sufficient or too harmful to go to.
Both of which couldn’t be farther from the reality.
Also, with increasingly more flight options from the States, it couldn’t be simpler to succeed in this fascinating vacation spot.
Additionally, Nicaraguans might desperately use some extra vacationer {dollars} of their financial system, they usually deserve it.
The History
One declare to fame of Nicaragua is that it gave the world one of many best names in Spanish literature, Ruben Dario. After spending his life as a diplomat, poet, and journalist, Daio is now a nationwide hero.
If you wish to see some stunning preserved historic cities, Leon, Granada, and Ciudad Antigua have been the primary established by Spaniards after they reached the shores of Nicaragua.
Wander their historic facilities and take within the structure and tradition; simply bear in mind to look each methods for the quite a few horse and buggies that zip round these streets all hours of the day.
The Price-tag
Going into this journey, I knew some counties in Central America can be cheaper than others. For instance, I used to be ready for Costa Rica and Panama to be extra expensive than Nicaragua and El Salvador.
And but, simply how cheaply you possibly can get by in Nicaragua nonetheless stunned me.
Now, some places undoubtedly value greater than others. For instance, San Juan Del Sur didn’t appear all that low cost to me, particularly when it got here to lodging.
However, it’s attainable to search out lodging on the otherworldly island of Ometepe for subsequent to nothing, and Granada additionally has many low cost choices out there.
Aside from lodging, day by day bills equivalent to transportation, sim playing cards, meals and drinks all additionally value lower than I anticipated.
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This article initially appeared on TravelOffPath.com